Pacari – Chocolate

Pacari Chocolate is an Ecuadorian family-owned company which aims to make the highest quality fine flavour chocolate in the world -and who doesn’t love dark chocolate, especially when it possesses multiple health benefits? Made from tree to bar in Ecuador, this fair trade, sustainable, socially responsible, certified organic dark chocolate has won over 150 International Chocolate Awards since 2012.

Pacari Chocolate care about protecting both the local community by working to support 3500 local families and the environment by using only organically-sourced ingredients to ensure that during the growing process, no harm is done to the people or the planet. It is actually one of the few chocolates in the UK that is actually produced and packaged in a developing country that grows cacao beans, meaning more wealth stays in the country of origin (Ecuador).

Being free from gluten, soy, dairy and nuts the entire Pacari Chocolate range is perfect for vegans, health conscious, discerning and ethical consumers. I was lucky enough to be sent samples by Pacari Chocolates so without further ado, let’s check them out…

Ingredients:

Raw Dark Chocolate Covered Banana – Cacao (70%), unrefined cane sugar, banana, sunflower lecithin, arabic gum (all ingredients are 100% organic)

Raw Dark Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs – Cacao (70%), unrefined cane sugar, cacao butter, sunflower lecithin, cacao beans (all ingredients are 100% organic).

Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans – Cacao (60%), unrefined cane sugar, coffee beans, cacao butter, Arabic gum, sunflower lecithin (all ingredients are 100% organic).

Raw Dark Chocolate Covered Golden Berries – Cacao beans (70%), unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter, golden berries sunflower lecithin, arabic gum (all ingredients are 100% organic).

Nutrition: These products are all covered with dark chocolate, which is one of the best sources of antioxidants. With a decent amount of fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium, dark chocolate has been associated to lowering risk of heart disease, boosting bodily immunity, lifting depression, reducing anxiety-induced panic attacks and overall wellness.

Raw chocolates are popular because they contain cacao beans that have not been roasted at the usual high temperatures in order to better preserve both nutrients and antioxidants in a similar way to uncooked vegetables.

Taste:

Raw Dark Chocolate Covered Banana
I enjoy dark chocolate and banana – but I had never tried them together. After trying Pacari’s dark chocolate covered banana, it has left me wondering why I spent so long not combining the two! The texture is a velvety, harmonious blend and the taste simply gorgeous – which serves to heighten the sense of pleasure knowing this is a healthy treat!

Raw Dark Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs
I was excited to try these as you can’t get much better than chocolate covered chocolate! Cacao is also one of my favourite sweet treats to go for as the purest form of chocolate. It is ground down from the bean and is rich in fibre and potassium as mentioned. The main thing I noticed with these dark chocolate covered cacao nibs was the rich and refreshing taste. The bitterness of the cacao is eradicated by the sweet taste of the dark chocolate – a sumptuous combination. My only qualm with this particular one is that the nibs are a little on the small side so it’s easy to get carried away eating…perhaps the taste could linger on for longer if the cacao nibs were slightly bigger.

Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Putting coffee and chocolate together is just a marvellous idea. I’ve tried lots of different branded coffee-chocolate but I’ve never tried whole espresso beans covered in chocolate. This was a whole new experience and I loved it – it’s like the chocolate gives the espresso bean a big hug. The crunch of the bean is perfectly complimented by the taste of the chocolate. I was actually drinking a cappuccino at the time I sampled these and I threw a few of these chocolates into my drink to see what the outcome would be and all I can say is, wow! the enhancement was delectable.

Raw Dark Chocolate Covered Golden Berries
I’d heard about golden berries quite some time ago, but never actually got around to trying them – but finally I have and can definitely say I’ve been missing out. These remind me of a luxury, chewy, golden chocolate covered raisin; but much tastier. They have a very sharp and uniquely tangy taste, incomparable to any other dark chocolate covered fruits on the market -if you fancy awakening your taste buds to new life, this is one for you!

Value: All of the chocolates above are priced from £3.59 on the Pacari Chocolates website. This might initially seem quite steep however, once you experience them you’ll know they’re definitely good value considering the quality ingredients, uncompromising care and effort that goes into producing these – and what heavenly tastes await! They also come in gift sets, priced £17.50-£19.50 depending on which flavours take your fancy.

Summary: There is no denying that Pacari Chocolates make a bold statement with their products which ooze quality right from the start; from the packaging, presentation of the chocolate itself and the alluring fragrances that greet you before the chocolates have even touched your tongue! As a major fan of cacao, I was pleasantly surprised with how these flavours complimented each other. I enjoyed each different type and my pleasure was further elevated when I looked at the simple, clean nutrients. They are also an ideal size to keep in your bag for when you want to boost your energy during a work-out or just enjoy a healthy treat.

If you suddenly feel a chocolate craving coming on, head to Pacari Chocolates’ main site where you can buy some of this delicious chocolate and try it for yourself. Keep up to date with Pacari Chocolates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as they will soon be starting a Chocolate Subscription Club to show off their ever more diverse range of products.

Jemma Joel

Jemma is a BSc (Hons) psychology graduate with a passion for food and fitness. On her own personal journey, Jemma has achieved a weight loss of 5 stone over 6 years through a clean diet and regular exercise. With a major 'addiction' to avocados, eggs and green tea, Jemma is your go-to for nutritional information, recipe ideas and fitness routines!

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